Compare towns
Sutton vs Bar Harbor vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sutton | Bar Harbor | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
5,244Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.2±5.9Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Bar Harbor and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bar Harbor and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$538,400±$94k 62% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,106±$351 22% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #2 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Mt Desert Island High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
8.2Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.